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"Did you get rid of the police?" she whispered from the darkness of the kitchen.
"Aye, they're gone." He strode into the room and noted with dismay that she'd dressed.
She avoided looking at him. "I-I left the sweater. It was still wet. And my shoes are still on the patio. I'm sure they're wet, too."
"It's all right. We can wait. No one knows ye're here."
"My grandmother knows. And if I don't return soon, she'll be sending the police back here." She looked at him now, her eyes sad. "I'm sorry. I know you...expected more."
"Sweetheart." He touched her cheek. "Ye're far beyond anything I ever expected. I never thought such a beautiful and brave lass could care for me."
"Robby." Her eyes filled with tears. "I don't know how this can be happening. How can I fall in love so fast?"
"There's no need to question it."
"But that's what I do. I analyze feelings and situations. When people fall in love this quickly, how can you trust it to last when times get - " She stopped when he placed his fingers on her lips.
"Do ye believe in love?"
She nodded.
"Do ye believe in faithfulness and loyalty?"
"Yes." She took his hand in hers and smiled. "And I believe good will overcome evil. I believe in family and friendship, kindness and respect. Just don't ask me to believe in unicorns and the Tooth Fairy."
He chuckled. "Nay. But I will ask you to believe in me."
"I want to. I really want to."
"Then do it." He kissed her brow. "I wish ye would stay with me." Forever.
"I need to go for now." She placed a hand on his chest. "But I could come back tomorrow night."
"Tomorrow?"
"Yes." She smoothed her hand through his chest hair and over his nipple. "Can you wait till tomorrow?"
"I could wait forever for you." He slapped himself mentally. "But I doona want to wait that long. I'm ready for you now."
She glanced down and winced. "I noticed. Would it help if I threw more ice water on you?"
"Cruel wench," he growled, then smiled at the sound of her giggle.
"Can you give me a ride home? I don't want to walk with a panther out there."
"Aye. I can do that." Robby gathered the car keys and his ID. The evening hadn't gone completely as he'd hoped, but over all, he couldn't complain. He'd given Olivia pleasure. He'd felt her shatter in his arms.
He'd confessed his love, and she'd surrendered her heart. She might not quite realize it yet. She was putting up a wee bit of resistance, but there was no denying it. She was falling in love with him.
Tomorrow night he would lay full claim to her. And then nothing would ever part them.
It was almost noon by the time Olivia woke on Thursday. She'd tossed and turned most of the night, waffling between anxiety and elation. Elation because she was falling in love with the sweetest, most gorgeous, most heroic man she'd ever met. Anxiety because she'd known him less than a week. And she was seriously considering losing her virginity to him tonight.
For the first time in her life the term "madly in love" was making sense. The overwhelming rush of passion and desire was causing her to do crazy things. But it felt so good. The things he'd done to her with his hands, his mouth - he was incredible. And she didn't need her empathic powers with him. She could feel his love with every touch, every glance, and every word he spoke to her.
She dressed and wandered into the kitchen. "Good morning, Yia Yia."
"Morning?" Eleni snorted as she tossed some olives and feta cheese into a salad. "It's time for lunch, child."
"Sorry." Olivia checked the kettle on the stove. The water inside was still hot. "I didn't sleep well."
"No one will sleep well until they catch that nasty jaguar," Eleni grumbled. "Just as well you missed breakfast. I didn't dare go to the bakery for fresh bread."
"What's the latest news?" Olivia retrieved a mug from an overhead cabinet. She'd told her grandmother about the panther after Robby had driven her home the night before. Of course she'd avoided letting Eleni know how close she'd come to being attacked by the wild animal.
"Alexia called this morning. She heard that a goat was killed near Horos. The goat herder said a huge black cat like a panther did it, but the police are saying there is no panther. No one has seen it all day."
Olivia nodded as she fixed a cup of tea. "It may be nocturnal."
"I don't think you should go out tonight."
"I'll be fine. Robby said he'd pick me up."
Eleni heaved a huge sigh. "I had such high hopes for Spiro. But this Robby seems like a nice boy. He sent you a nice box of fruit this morning."
Olivia's breath hitched. Her hand trembled and she set the mug on the counter. "Fruit?" She turned to face her grandmother. "What kind of fruit?"
"Apples. Next to the - child, what's wrong?" Eleni hurried over to her.
Olivia stumbled back against the counter. No, no, it couldn't be him.
"What's wrong?" Eleni touched her shoulder. "There's a dark aura of...terror surrounding you."
"Where?" she whispered. "Where are the apples?"
"On the counter by the refrigerator."
Olivia forced herself to walk, one step at a time, around the kitchen table to the fridge. There was a deafening noise in her ears, the thundering beat of her heart. Her grandmother was right beside her, still talking, but her voice seemed fuzzy and far away.
She spotted it. The familiar brown box with the green logo. He always sent six apples. Red ones nestled in green Easter grass. Inside would be a note. Typed.
Previous messages flitted through her mind. Dearest Olivia, I'll never let you go. Dearest Olivia, you are mine forever. Dearest Olivia, you are the only one worthy of me.
Her hand shook as she opened the lid. Six red apples. Green grass. She stepped back as a sob escaped her mouth. Why did he keep doing this? Did he intend to terrorize her for the rest of her life?
"Easy, child." Eleni patted her back.
"How did he find me here? The bastard's in solitary. Damn him!" Olivia grabbed the note and tore it open. The words were neatly typed.
Dearest Olivia, I will always find you.
"Dammit!" She wadded the note in her fist and threw it.
"Calm down," Eleni said in a soothing voice. "It can't be that bad."
"It is bad. He knows I'm here. This was supposed to be my safe place. My sanctuary." Tears filled her eyes. "I was supposed to be safe with you!"
"Shhh, child. We'll be all right."
"With a mass murderer sending us gifts and a panther outside the door?" Olivia paced across the room. "I have to leave. We have to leave. I'm not leaving you here alone."
"We are leaving. Eleven days from now."
"We're leaving today," Olivia announced. When her grandmother started to object, she raised a hand. "You don't understand how serious this is. Otis Crump is behind this, but since he's in solitary, he must have someone helping him."
"A friend, maybe, but that doesn't mean we should run away in fear."
"I'm not sure this is just a friend," Olivia explained. "Otis hinted that he might have had an accomplice for the murders, but I could never get a name from him. If this accomplice exists, then he knows where we are. It's not safe for you here. I'll feel better if you're with Dad in Houston."
Eleni sighed. "Very well. I'll go with you, but mainly because I don't like to see you so upset."
"Fine. I'll get busy making the travel arrangements. You start packing."
"Let me call Alexia first. She can help us get the house ready. You start bringing in the table and chairs from the courtyard."
Three hours later the furniture was covered with bedsheets, the blue-painted shutters were firmly closed over the windows, and the food, including the apples, had been given to Alexia. A cab picked up Olivia, her grandmother, and their luggage and took them to the port.
As they boarded the ferry, Olivia's heart sank at the thought of leaving Robby. She'd left a note for him with Alexia. She hoped he would understand.
She stood on deck with a chilly breeze whipping her face as the island of Patmos grew smaller and smaller on the horizon. Tears ran down her cheeks. Damn that Otis. The monster had defiled her sanctuary. He'd put her grandmother in danger. And he'd caused her to leave the man of her dreams. She could only hope that somehow, someday, she would see Robby MacKay again.
